Study Liberal Arts in Oklahoma

Oklahoma is the crossroads of the nation. It’s where north meets south and east meets west. It’s home to large cities and small towns, rolling hills and farmland, and dense forests and mountains. And as the crossroads of the nation, the state’s economy is diverse, with tourism, manufacturing, and aerospace joining agriculture and minerals development as primary components of the economy.

Oklahoma also offers a diverse higher education system. From large public schools like Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma to small, private colleges and universities that dot the state’s landscape, you have no shortage of choices when it comes to getting a college degree.

You can choose from many different liberal arts programs, too. Rather than simply listing off all the options, we have chosen to highlight some of the high-quality Oklahoma programs for your consideration.

Best Accredited Liberal Arts Bachelor's Degree Programs and Colleges in Oklahoma

Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degrees in Oklahoma

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering liberal arts bachelor’s programs in Oklahoma:

  • University of Central Oklahoma
  • Oklahoma State University
  • Southeastern Oklahoma State University
  • Rogers State University
  • Western Oklahoma State College
  • Oklahoma City University
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Cameron University
  • University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

The University of Central Oklahoma

Bachelor’s – Applied Liberal Arts

The University of Central Oklahoma offers an Applied Liberal Arts program that culminates with a Bachelor of Arts degree. This 124-credit program is a traditional four-year on-campus degree, though an online option is also available.

As is common for liberal arts degrees, this is an interdisciplinary program that includes coursework from a wide range of fields. For example, you must complete 70-78 credits of liberal arts coursework in areas like:

  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Cultural Foundations
  • Communication Skills
  • Foreign Language
  • Sciences
  • Career Prep

Additionally, you must complete a capstone experience and take 24 credits in a selected concentration area. Your concentration area can be chosen from a broad and diverse collection of options, such as art, philosophy, sociology, or theater arts. Other options include history, psychology, and leadership, to name a few. In all, you can choose from nearly two dozen distinct concentration areas.

In addition to your major-area studies, you must also complete 42-44 credits of core university coursework. This component of the degree is similar for all students regardless of major. Think of the core university requirements as being the academic foundation upon which you build your knowledge and understanding of the world.

For example, university core courses include studies in written and oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and life skills. Other required course areas include the following:

  • Critical Inquiry and Aesthetic Analysis
  • American Historical and Political Analysis
  • Cultural and Language Analysis
  • Social and Behavioral Analysis

As a result of your studies in applied liberal arts, you will graduate with a wide-ranging skill set that can help you find employment in many different occupational areas. For example, graduates of this program have gone on to work in education, politics, and urban planning. Others have found jobs in research, pharmaceutical sales, and library science.

To help prepare you for the world of work, UCO offers off-campus learning activities with partners in the Oklahoma City area. For example, you might be able to intern with the Oklahoma Arts Council and gain valuable experience planning and executing plans for arts activities in central Oklahoma. As another example, you can opt to study abroad and gain valuable insights about the liberal arts by studying in another country.

You can apply to the University of Central Oklahoma online. When applying as a first-year student, you must provide the following:

  • A completed application for admission and financial aid
  • Official high school transcripts that show your unweighted GPA and class rank
  • A record of your state-required immunizations

Additionally, you must have a 20 composite on the ACT or 1020 combined math and reading on the ACT, a 2.7 cumulative unweighted GPA with a ranking in the top 50 percent of your class, or a 2.7 cumulative GPA in the 15-unit core curriculum for high school.

Oklahoma State University

Bachelor’s – Multidisciplinary Studies

The Multidisciplinary Studies program at Oklahoma State University provides the opportunity to complete advanced studies in over a dozen disciplines, including art, humanities, social sciences, and biological sciences. In fact, the faculty for this program represent thirteen distinct departments at Oklahoma State and have research experience in diverse areas such as medieval literature, politics, and unmanned aerial systems.

This program is highly flexible to meet your needs. On the one hand, you can choose to complete either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science program. On the other hand, you can choose from two major options that focus your studies: Business Essentials, which is offered as a B.A. or B.S., or Pre-Law, which is also offered as a B.A. or B.S.

Likewise, you can choose to focus your studies on two concentration areas. Concentrations are available from 18 academic departments. Your choices vary widely from gender and women’s studies, anthropology, English, and many more.

This program requires four years of full-time study on the OSU campus in Stillwater. In that time, you must complete 120 credits to graduate. For the B.A. in Multidisciplinary Studies, this includes 40 credits of general education coursework, 22 college and departmental credits, and 40 credits within your major. You must also complete 18 elective credits.

If you choose the B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies option, the requirements vary slightly. They are as follows:

  • 40 general education credits
  • 13 college and departmental credits
  • 40 major-area credits
  • 27 elective credits

The Business Essentials and pre-law options differ slightly as well but still require you to complete general education courses, college and departmental courses, and major-area courses with electives rounding out the 120 credits needed to graduate.

No matter which track you choose, you will gain valuable skills that make you an improved student, prospective employee, and citizen. For example, your studies will enhance your critical thinking skills, enable you to analyze information from various sources, and write clearly about highly complex topics, among many other skills.

You can apply to become an Oklahoma State Cowboy online. For guaranteed admission as a first-year student, you must meet one of the following qualifications:

  • Have a 3.0 unweighted cumulative high school GPA or higher and be in the top one-third of your high school graduating class
  • Have a 3.0 GPA or higher in the 15-unit core and have a 21 ACT or 1060 SAT score or higher
  • Have a 24 ACT or 1160 SAT score or higher

Additionally, you must submit the following:

  • Official high school transcripts
  • An application essay
  • A leadership and involvement resume

Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Bachelor of Science in Liberal & Applied Studies

The Bachelor of Science in Liberal & Applied Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a highly customizable program to fit your unique needs. As a student at Southeastern, you will work with your academic advisor to develop a program of study that satisfies your academic interests while preparing you for your chosen career.

To do so, you will complete 124 credits of coursework over a period of four years, provided you study full-time. The curriculum is divided into two primary segments: Liberal and Applied Studies coursework and general education credits.

The general education credits are introductory courses in many different academic fields, including communications, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, science, and math. You might take courses like Introduction to Biology, Introduction to Psychology, and Interpersonal Communication. You will also take general education electives on topics of your choice.

The primary emphasis of this degree is the 72-credit Liberal and Applied Studies section. These courses focus on your areas of interest and allow you to explore many different disciplines. In fact, Southeastern offers six different concentrations, of which you must complete at least 12 credits in four of the concentrations. The available options include the following:

  • Arts
  • Humanities
  • Natural Sciences
  • Applied Sciences
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Applied Behavioral Sciences.

So, for example, let’s say you choose arts, natural sciences, behavioral sciences, and applied behavioral sciences as your four areas of concentration. You might take courses like the following:

  • Theater and music
  • Environmental science and math
  • Psychology and sociology
  • Leadership and criminal justice

These are just a few examples, though. The combination of concentrations and courses you take within each concentration is virtually limitless.

Furthermore, a capstone experience is required. This course requires you to examine your learning and blend together the many different themes, skills, and areas of research into a coherent collection of work. This course is usually completed during the final semester of the program.

You can start the process of becoming a Southeastern student by filling out an online application. You must meet one of the following requirements when applying as a first-year student:

  • Have a minimum 2.7 cumulative high school GPA and be in the top 50 percent of your graduating class
  • Have a 2.7 GPA or higher in the 15-unit core curriculum
  • Have a 20 ACT composite score (or SAT equivalent)

You must also submit official high school transcripts and official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit.

Rogers State University

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts

At Rogers State University, you can choose from a couple of different liberal arts degrees: a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts or a Bachelor of General Studies in General Studies. The B.A. option is offered online, while the B.G.S. option is available on the Rogers State campus in Claremore. Both programs are 120 credits in length and require about four years of full-time study to complete.

The B.A. in Liberal Arts allows for customization of your program by choosing from one of three concentrations: English, Global Humanities, or Liberal Arts. In each case, your coursework will be heavily interdisciplinary to give you a holistic view of your concentration area.

Each field of specialization includes several course requirements to ensure your degree program is preparatory for advanced studies or entering the world of work. For example, you must take 41 credits in the following fields:

  • Communications
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Science and Math
  • Humanities
  • Global Studies

Your concentration-area coursework includes 21 credits of core requirements, three credits of foreign language, and 21 credits within your specialization. Additionally, you must complete either elective credits of your choosing or an 18-credit minor.

The B.G.S. program approaches things a little differently in that you have much more freedom to choose your coursework within your major. That is, the same basic general requirements apply, but you can choose two or more approved minor programs to comprise the bulk of your major.

For example, you can choose the 24-credit business administration minor and pair it with the 18-credit international relations minor. Or, you might choose the 21-credit Spanish minor to go with the 18-credit Geography minor. Your choices should be complementary to one another, though you can choose minors from completely different fields, like Esports and Creative Writing if you wish. Other available minors include the following:

  • Art History
  • Philosophy
  • Broadcasting and New Media
  • Justice Administration
  • Technical Writing

When applying, submit the following documentation:

  • Official high school transcripts (or GED scores)
  • Official transcripts from every college or university from which you have earned credit
  • AP or CLEP scores, if applicable

ACT or SAT scores can be submitted as well, though this is an optional step.

Is Liberal Arts a College Major?

Liberal arts is not typically a specific college major, but rather a broad category of study. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines including the humanities (such as literature, philosophy, and history), social sciences (like psychology and sociology), natural sciences, and sometimes fine arts.

However, some colleges and universities do offer a major specifically in ‘Liberal Art’ or ‘Liberal Studies’. This kind of program usually allows students to take a variety of courses across different fields within the liberal arts, rather than specializing in a single subject. It’s designed for students who want a broad, interdisciplinary education.

Additionally, many students choose to major in a specific liberal arts discipline, such as English, Political Science, or Biology, rather than pursuing a generalized liberal arts degree.

How Many Years is a Liberal Arts Degree?

A liberal arts degree, like most bachelor’s degrees, typically takes four years to complete if you are studying full-time. This duration is standard for undergraduate programs in the United States.

The four-year timeline allows students to complete a combination of general education courses, major-specific courses, and electives. The general education courses usually cover a wide range of subjects to provide a broad educational foundation, while the major-specific courses allow for deeper study in the student’s chosen field. Electives can be chosen from various disciplines, providing flexibility and the opportunity to explore diverse interests.

However, the time to complete a degree can vary based on several factors:

  • Part-time Study: If you enroll on a part-time basis, it will take longer to complete their degree.
  • Accelerated Programs: Some colleges offer accelerated programs that allow you to complete their degree in a shorter time, often within three years.
  • Double Majors or Minors: If you pursue double majors or additional minors, you may need more time to satisfy all the requirements.
  • Transfer Credits: If you transfer from another college or university, you might be able to complete you degree in less time if credits are accepted.

What are the Liberal Arts Career Opportunities in Oklahoma?

As noted in the introduction, Oklahoma has a wonderfully diverse economy. Paired with a multidisciplinary education, you can set yourself up for success in any number of fields after graduation.

Let’s say you are interested in history and focused your studies in that field. You might find employment as an archivist or researcher in one of Oklahoma’s many museums or historical societies. These opportunities are likely available in greater numbers in large cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but smaller cities and towns certainly offer employment options for working in the history and preservation fields.

Communications is a popular career path for liberal arts graduates, too. If you are passionate about communications in sports, you might seek an entry-level job with one of the professional sports teams in the Oklahoma City area, like the Thunder NBA team. Likewise, there are many online and print publications where your skills in communications and interest in sports can be a valuable asset.

Yet another option you might consider is working as an urban planner. Though this option might require more education and training, a liberal arts degree might qualify you for a junior position with a city’s urban planning department. This is especially true of rapidly growing areas in the Oklahoma City metro, where explosive growth necessitates that municipalities expand their urban planning teams.

If you enjoy planning events, you might be able to use your liberal arts education to seek employment in the event planning and convention space. Oklahoma City has a new convention center that draws crowds of all sizes. Your skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership can help you be a valuable member of the convention center staff.

Of course, you can use the knowledge and skills you gain in any of these areas to start your own business. For example, rather than seeking a job as an event planner with an existing business or organization, you might start your own company and provide planning services for weddings, birthdays, professional gatherings, and so forth.

Again, with a diversified degree from an Oklahoma college, you can set yourself up for success with skills that are widely applicable in Oklahoma’s burgeoning economy. And with continued diversification and globalization, you will likely find that job opportunities await you outside of the Sooner State, too!

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